40
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
Archaeopteryx is a bird fossil that is often presented as "proof" of evolution because the bones have some characteristics reminiscent of reptiles, making it appear to be a so-called "transitional" form between reptiles and birds. However, research from prominent creation scientists, such as the creationist anatomist Dr David Menton[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/bios/d_menton.asp] shows that Archaeopteryx is a true bird with flight feathers, not a transitional form at all.
Archaeopteryx had fully formed flying feathers (including asymmetric vanes and ventral, reinforcing furrows as in modern flying birds), the classical elliptical wings of modem woodland birds, and a large wishbone for attachment of muscles responsible for the downstroke of the wings<ref>A. Feduccia, "Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of
Archaeopteryx, "Science, 259(5096):790-793, February 5, 1993.</ref>
Its brain was essentially that of a flying bird, with a large cerebellum and visual cortex. The fact that it had teeth is irrelevant to its alleged transitional status - a number of extinct birds had teeth, while many reptiles do not. Furthermore, like other birds, both its maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) moved. In most vertebrates, including reptiles, only the mandible moves.<ref>D. Mentonand C. Wieland, "Bird Evolution Flies out the window,"
Creation ex nihilo, 16(4):16-19, September-November 1994.</ref>
These evidences point to Archaeopteryx having been created as a bird, and thus useless to proving evolution.
==References==
<references/>
Archaeopteryx had fully formed flying feathers (including asymmetric vanes and ventral, reinforcing furrows as in modern flying birds), the classical elliptical wings of modem woodland birds, and a large wishbone for attachment of muscles responsible for the downstroke of the wings<ref>A. Feduccia, "Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of
Archaeopteryx, "Science, 259(5096):790-793, February 5, 1993.</ref>
Its brain was essentially that of a flying bird, with a large cerebellum and visual cortex. The fact that it had teeth is irrelevant to its alleged transitional status - a number of extinct birds had teeth, while many reptiles do not. Furthermore, like other birds, both its maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) moved. In most vertebrates, including reptiles, only the mandible moves.<ref>D. Mentonand C. Wieland, "Bird Evolution Flies out the window,"
Creation ex nihilo, 16(4):16-19, September-November 1994.</ref>
These evidences point to Archaeopteryx having been created as a bird, and thus useless to proving evolution.
==References==
<references/>